Sprinkler head apparatus

ABSTRACT

A step by step rotatable sprinkler head apparatus of the impulse arm type is provided having improvements in the impulse arm water engaging portion in which two separate curved surfaces are employed, one for repelling the impulse arm and the other for providing a better distribution of water. The sprinkler head also has a new nozzle with removable inserts for changing the wear surface without replacing the complete nozzle portion of the sprinkler head. Improved internal water vanes and rear spreader nozzle having internal angular vanes are also provided.

United States Patent Senninger, deceased 1 June 13, 1972 [54] SPRINKLER HEAD APPARATUS [72] Inventor: Earl J. Senninger, deceased, late of Orange County, Fla. by Annette M. Senninger, executrix U.S. Cl ..239/230, 239/233, 239/510 Field ofSearch ..239/1l4,ll5, 116,117,118, 239/230, 231, 233, 246, 288, 456, 459, 460, 503, 507, 509, 510, 516, 517,521, 522, 591

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,904,261 9/ 1959 Johnson ..239/230 2,606,789 8/1952 Royer 3,112,883 12/1963 Blanchard... 3,204,873 9/1965 Senninger ..239/230 1 3,080,123 3/1963 Erns ..239/59l X 2,779,478 1/1957 Wahlin .239/590.3 X 2,076,753 4/1937 Thompson... ....239/49l X 2,869,925 1/1959 Crow ....239/59l X 3,204,874 9/ 1965 Senninger ....239/230 X 3,537,648 1 H1970 Radecki ..239/230 X Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Thomas C. Culp, Jr. Attorney-Duckworth and Hobby ABSTRACT A step by step rotatable sprinkler head apparatus of theimpulse arm type is provided having improvements in the impulse arm water engaging portion in which two separate curved surfaces are employed, one for repelling the impulse arm and the other for providing a better distribution of water. The sprinkler head also has a new nozzle with removable inserts for changing the wear surface without replacing the complete nozzle portion of the sprinkler head. lmproved internal water vanes and rear spreader nozzle having internal angular vanes are also provided.

8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUHIBIBTZ 3,669,356

EARL J. SENNINGER m/agufa/e SPRINKLER HEAD APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to sprinklers and more particularly to sprinkler heads of a step by step rotary type used for irrigation and rotated by an impulse arm intermittently engaging a stream of water and to such a class of sprinklers adapted to prevent the entry of insects, such as mud daubers therein when not in use.

Impulse type step by step rotary sprinkler heads have come into extensive use in agricultural irrigation such as in citrus tree groves. In citrus tree groves sprinkler heads are normally carried on pipes rising to a high elevation to above the trees and since the sprinkler heads normally have considerably inactive periods of time, the exposed outlets frequently become clogged by the entry of insects into the nozzle portions, and especially by insects nesting, such as mud daubers, building their nests within the sprinkler heads. Because of the high elevation of the sprinkler head it becomes very difficult to clean the sprinkler heads when ready for use, and to overcome this problem sprinkler heads have been provided having means for closing or restricting the noule of the sprinkler to prevent the entry of insects. However, these devices for closing the nozzle entry frequently interfere with the operation of the sprinkler and the interior type of sliding spring-loaded rod for closing the nozzle during inactive periods but which is opened by the water pressure driving a piston connected to the rod provides the disadvantage of interfering with the complete flushing of the interior vanes in the sprinkler. It is accordingly one object of the present invention to provide such a sprinkler with a sliding piston and rod nozzle closer which will not interfere with the operation of the vanes in flushing any material in the sprinkler head.

Prior art sprinklers of the step by step rotary type sometimes have rear spreader nozzles for better coverage of the area being irrigated. These rear nozzles have been subject to stoppage, and it is accordingly another object of the present invention to provide a rear nozzle having interior vanes to cause the spiralling of water leaving the rear spreader nozzle, and also a built-in strainer for preventing large trash from clogging these nozzles. The impulse arm rotary type sprinklers typically provide a nozzle that throws a stream of water a considerable distance and is intermittently interrupted by water engaging portion or stream of the impulse arm which is utilized for rotating the sprinkler in its intermittent steps. While these sprinkler heads have been satisfactory for irrigation purposes, they tend to irrigate the outer portion of the perimeter of the circle being irrigated considerably more than the areas closer to the sprinkler head, thus providing non-uniform sprinkling of the area. The rear nozzle on these sprinkler heads has helped provide a more uniform sprinkler but still leaves portions of the area being irrigated receiving considerably less water than other portions. It is accordingly another object of the present invention to provide an improved stream of water engaging portion of an impulse arm which will advantageously direct a portion of the stream of water in a different path for watering closer to the sprinkler heads during the time that the impulse am is engaging the stream of water.

Another object of the present invention is to provide impulse arm type rotary irrigation sprinkler head which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and effective in operation in overcoming problems experienced with prior art sprinkler heads.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a step by step rotary sprinkler head apparatus having a rotatable sprinkler body which may be coupled to a source of water under pressure for irrigation of a circular area when the water is discharged from a nozzle on the sprinkler body. The sprinkler has an impulse arm which is spring mounted to the body of the sprinkler for rotating the sprinkler by the impulse arm intermittently engaging the stream-of water being discharged through the nozzle which repels the impulse arm water engaging or spoon portion against the resilient spring which spring then directs the impulse arm back into engagement with the stream of water, each such impulse moving the sprinkler one step in the rotation of the sprinkler head. The water engaging portion or spoon of the impulse arm is provided with two connected curved surfaces, one for repelling the impulse arm by the stream of water, and the other for directing the stream of water for irrigating closer to the sprinkler head. These curved surfaces are attached to each other with one being generally perpendicular to the other. The nozzle has a removable portion for removing from the sprinkler body, which removable portion has a replaceable wear insert for providing easy change ability of the nozzle sizes without replacing the entire nozzle and for easy replacement of worn inserts. The present sprinkler head is of the nozzle closing type to prevent the entry of insects and provides increased range by internal vanes with vanes being provided which do not interfere with the flushing of the sprinkler head and a rear spreader nozzle is provided with internal angular vanes and a built-in strainer for improved operation of the rear nozzle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from a study of the written description and the drawings in which FIG. 1 shows a top view of a sprinkler in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the sprinkler of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the embodiments in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a view along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 3; I 7

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the nozzle insert internal vanes and a tip of a nozzle blocking rod; and

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the rear nozzle and vanes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an impulse ann step by step rotary irrigation sprinkler head 10 is illustrated having a sprinkler head body 11 with an impulse arm 12 which is operated by a spring located in a spring cover 13 which keeps the bearing and spring clean. The impulse arm 12 also has a counter weight 14 and a water engaging portion or spoon 15. The sprinkler body 11 has a protruding member 16 for stopping the impulse arm 12 from proceeding past a certain point when the sprinkler is not in operation. The body has aremovable nozzle system 17 which may be easily unscrewed from the body 11 and a rear removable cap 18 which may be unscrewed to remove the rear portion of the sprinkler and the insect or mud dauber mechanism for closing the sprinkler nozzle when the sprinkler is not in use. The springed biased dirt dauber blocking rod for insect stopping member 20 can be seen protruding from the rear cap 18 of the sprinkler 10. The rear opening extension 21 in body 1 1 has a rear nozzle or plug 22 which may be unscrewed and may alternatively have a nozzle inserted or a plug to block the exit of water through tubular portion 21 of the sprinkler l0. Sprinkler 10 is illustrated-having threads 23 threaded into a riser pipe 24 and has a rotatable connection 25 so that the sprinkler head may be easily inserted by threading into the pipe 24 and is adapted to rotate on the rotatable connection 25, which may have a teflon hearing for ease of rotation. The water impinging reaction surface 15 has one curved portion 26 adapted to engage water leaving the nozzle 17 in a manner that water impinging upon the surface 26 will force the sprinkler against the spring and cap 13 away from the water stream while the spring will force or bias the impulse arm 12, surface 26 back towards the water stream. This impulse action results in intermittent or stepped rotation of the sprinkler head on the rotatable connection 25. However, the present spoon 15 has a second curved surface 27 which is connected to and generally perpendicular to the curved surface 26 located so that the stream of water leaving or being discharged from the nozzle 17 engages both the curved surfaces 26 and a portion of the curved surface 27. The curved surface 27 throws a portion of the water stream out of its normal path and in a generally upward direction to give it a path with a steeper rise and thereby sprinkling a great portion of the area close to the sprinkler head during the brief period that the spoon is engaging the stream of water leaving the sprinkler nozzle 17. This action'in combination with the rear sprinkler nozzle 22 improves the watering action of the sprinkler head so that a much more uniform sprinkling is provided in the area being irrigated.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a sectional view is illustrated in which the operation of the sprinkler 10 may be more clearly understood in which the sprinkler has the sprinkler body 11 impulse arm 12, with counter balance 14 and spring cap 13 protecting a biasing spring for the impulse arm 12. The rear nozzle 22 can be seen having a nozzle portion or passageway 30 along with a built-in strainer 31 and an internal angular vane means 19 having vanes 29 for spreading the rear stream of water by spiralling the water with vanes 29. The rear cap 18 has the insect blocking rod having a stop 32 to stop it at the edge of the opening 33 of the cap 18. A spring 34 forces the rod 20 back and against a piston 35 towards the nozzle assembly 17 to block the nozzle when the sprinkler is not in use to prevent the entry of insects such as mud daubers or dirt daubers from building nests in the sprinkler head. When water is received through the sprinkler body 11, the pressure against the piston 35 forces the rod 20 against the spring 34 to retract from the nozzle to allow water to be discharged from the nozzle assembly 17. The nozzle assembly 17 can be seen to be threaded at 36 into the body 1 1 of the sprinkler and has a wear insert 37 located inside which may easily be removed for replacement with different sizes without having to replace the whole threaded member 17 and which may also be easily replaced when the insert 37 becomes worn from use. This insert which is both cheap to make relative to the whole nozzle assembly 17 and also provides the opportunity to make the wear insert 37 of special materials which resist wear and operate in a superior fashion to a unithaving threads and a complete nozzle assembly. The impulse'arm 12 can be seen. to have the water engaging portion 15 and the sprinkler body can be seen to have the rotatable. connection 25.

Referring now to FIG. 4, an alignment of the nozzle assembly 17 as connected to the sprinkler body 11 with the spoon or water engaging portion 15 of the impulse arm 12 is illustrated, while FIG. 5 more clearly shows the sprinkler body 11 having a cylindrical insert 40 therein which has vanes 41 extending radically inward from the inside of the cylinder 40 which internal vanes provide increased range for the nozzle by reducing any tendency of the stream of water being discharged from being discharged with a vortex type action. The protrusion 16 for stopping the impulse arm 12 is also shown connected to the body 11 and the rod 20 is illustrated passing through the vanes 41 which do not extend sufficiently inward to prevent rod 20 from passing therethrough.

FIG. 6 more clearly illustrates the water engaging portion 15 of the impulse arm 12 having a first curved surface 26 and a second curved portion 27 for repelling the spoon 15 while directing the stream of water leaving and discharged from the nozzle assembly; and FIG. 7 illustrates the strainer members 31 in the rear nozzle 21 on the sprinkler body 11 which builtin strainer prevents clogging of the nozzle.

FIG. 8 illustrates how the rod 20 can retract within the cylinder 40 beyond the vanes 41 which vanes have been deliberately shortened to allow them to be flushed when the member 20 is withdrawn. Vanes 41 of course are used to increase the range of the sprinkler nozzle insert 37 which nozzle insert can be seen to be generally cone shaped with a cone nozzle passageway 42 and is 'easily press-fitted into the assembly 17 of FIG. 3 and held-by the end portion 43 of the insert 37 engaging vane cylinder 40 and 43. The vane portion is in turn held in position within the sprinkler body 11 of FIG. 3 by the other end portion 44 engaging in ledge 45 in the sprinkler body. Thus these members may be easily removed by disconnecting the nozzle assembly 17 for cleaning or replacement.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the rear nozzle assembly havinga threaded nozzle 22 with a cylindrical vane assembly 19 having vanes 29 located therein, which are curved or angular vanes of a generally triangular shape located on the interior of cylinder 19 and adapted to spiral the stream of water passing therethrough to increase the spread of the water to the rear of the sprinkler system. This advantageously provides better distribution of the water within the area being irrigated. Cylinder l9 removable fits into nozzle 22 and against an interior annular ledge in extension 21 of the sprinkler.

It will be clear at this point that an impulse arm type irrigation sprinkler head has been provided which overcomes some of the problems of prior art sprinkler heads while improving the over-all operation of the sprinkler head. However, the invention is not to be construed as limited to the particular forms disclosed herein since these are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.

What is claimed is:

1. A step by step rotatable sprinkler head apparatus comprising in combination: 1 v

a. a rotatable sprinkler body adapted to be coupled to a source of water under pressure;

b. a water discharge nozzle attached to said body for discharging water therethrough, said water discharge nozzle including a removable portion for removing from said sprinkler body and said removable portion has a replaceable wear insert whereby inserts having different size openings can be utilizedv and easily replaced when worn;

c. an impulse arm mounted to said sprinkler body', said impulse am having a water engaging portion for repelling said impulse arm from said stream of water upon engagement therewith;

d. resilient means connected to said sprinkler body for biasing said impulse arm for movement in one direction for engagement with a water stream being discharged by said nozzle whereby said sprinkler head will be moved by the impulse arm intermittently engaging the stream of water;

e. said impulse arm having a water engaging portion having a first curved surface for repelling said impulsearm from said stream of water upon engagement with said stream of water and a second curved surface for directing a portion of said stream of water intermittently on a different course whereby the areas within a circle being sprinkled will be more uniformly sprinkled; and

f. nozzle restricting means for restricting the nozzle opening when said sprinkler is not being operated to prevent the entry of insects into said nozzle, said nozzle restricting means includes a rod which is retracted from said nozzle under pressure of said water sources and said rod passes through vanes located in said sprinkler body, said rod being adaptedto retract beyond said vanes for a more complete flushing of said sprinkler body; said vanes being located in a cylinder inserted in said sprinkler body and said vanes extending through only a portion of said cylinder to allow said rod to retract away from said vanes when said sprinkler is operational.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which said impulse arm water engaging portion second curved surface is generally perpendicular to said first curved surface.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which said sprinkler body has a second nozzle means said second nozzle means including a bar screen adapted to prevent clogging.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 in which said second nozzle means includes vanes for spiralling the stream of water passing through said nozzle to spread said stream of water upon leaving said nozzle.

5. A step by step sprinkler head apparatus comprising in combination:

a. a rotatable sprinkler body adapted to be coupled to a source of water under pressure;

b. a water discharge nozzle attached to said body for discharging water therethrough;

c. an impulse arm mounted to said sprinkler body, said impulse arm having a water engaging portion for repelling said impulse arm from said stream of water upon engagement therewith, said impulse arm water engaging portion having a first curved surface for repelling said impulse arm from said stream of water upon engagement with said stream of water and a second curved surface for directing said stream of water over an intermittent part different from said normal path of said stream of water and said second curved surface being substantially perpendicular to said first curved surface;

d. resilient means connected to said sprinkler body for biasing said impulse arm for movement in one direction for engagement with a water stream being discharged by said nozzle whereby said sprinkler head will be moved by the impulse arm intermittently engaging the stream of water; and

e. said discharge nozzle having a disengaging portion for removal from said sprinkler body and said disengaging portion having removable wear inserts whereby said inserts may be replaced without replacing said noule.

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which said rotatable sprinkler body has a cylindrical member having radially extending internal vanes extending from the interior of said cylindrical member, located next to said nozzle.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 in which said vanes are located on the nozzle end portion of said cylindrical member with the remaining portion of said cylindrical member having a smooth interior surface.

8. A step by step sprinkler head apparatus comprising in combination:

a. a rotatable sprinkler body adapted to be coupled to a source of water under pressure;

b. first and second water discharge nozzles attached to said body for discharging water therethrough, said first nozzle being adapted for discharge of water in a first direction;

c. an impulse arm mounted to said sprinkler body, said impulse arm having a water engaging portion for repelling said impulse arm from said stream of water upon engagement therewith;

d. resilient means connected to said sprinkler body for biasing said impulse arm for movement in one direction for engagement with a water stream being discharged by said nozzle whereby said sprinkler head will be moved by the impulse arm intermittently engaging the stream of water;

e. strainer means for blocking passage of larger pieces of trash through said second nozzle, said strainer means being a bar screen in the passageway to said second nozzle and integral with said sprinkler body; and

f. spiralling means located beyween said strainer means and 

1. A step by step rotatable sprinkler head apparatus comprising in combination: a. a rotatable sprinkler body adapted to be coupled to a source of water under pressure; b. a water discharge nozzle attached to said body for discharging water therethrough, said water discharge nozzle including a removable portion for removing from said sprinkler body and said removable portion has a replaceable wear insert whereby inserts having different size openings can be utilized and easily replaced when worn; c. an impulse arm mounted to said sprinkler body, said impulse arm having a water engaging portion for repelling said impulse arm from said stream of water upon engagement therewith; d. resilient means connected to saId sprinkler body for biasing said impulse arm for movement in one direction for engagement with a water stream being discharged by said nozzle whereby said sprinkler head will be moved by the impulse arm intermittently engaging the stream of water; e. said impulse arm having a water engaging portion having a first curved surface for repelling said impulse arm from said stream of water upon engagement with said stream of water and a second curved surface for directing a portion of said stream of water intermittently on a different course whereby the areas within a circle being sprinkled will be more uniformly sprinkled; and f. nozzle restricting means for restricting the nozzle opening when said sprinkler is not being operated to prevent the entry of insects into said nozzle, said nozzle restricting means includes a rod which is retracted from said nozzle under pressure of said water sources and said rod passes through vanes located in said sprinkler body, said rod being adapted to retract beyond said vanes for a more complete flushing of said sprinkler body; said vanes being located in a cylinder inserted in said sprinkler body and said vanes extending through only a portion of said cylinder to allow said rod to retract away from said vanes when said sprinkler is operational.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which said impulse arm water engaging portion second curved surface is generally perpendicular to said first curved surface.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which said sprinkler body has a second nozzle means said second nozzle means including a bar screen adapted to prevent clogging.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3 in which said second nozzle means includes vanes for spiralling the stream of water passing through said nozzle to spread said stream of water upon leaving said nozzle.
 5. A step by step sprinkler head apparatus comprising in combination: a. a rotatable sprinkler body adapted to be coupled to a source of water under pressure; b. a water discharge nozzle attached to said body for discharging water therethrough; c. an impulse arm mounted to said sprinkler body, said impulse arm having a water engaging portion for repelling said impulse arm from said stream of water upon engagement therewith, said impulse arm water engaging portion having a first curved surface for repelling said impulse arm from said stream of water upon engagement with said stream of water and a second curved surface for directing said stream of water over an intermittent part different from said normal path of said stream of water and said second curved surface being substantially perpendicular to said first curved surface; d. resilient means connected to said sprinkler body for biasing said impulse arm for movement in one direction for engagement with a water stream being discharged by said nozzle whereby said sprinkler head will be moved by the impulse arm intermittently engaging the stream of water; and e. said discharge nozzle having a disengaging portion for removal from said sprinkler body and said disengaging portion having removable wear inserts whereby said inserts may be replaced without replacing said nozzle.
 6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which said rotatable sprinkler body has a cylindrical member having radially extending internal vanes extending from the interior of said cylindrical member, located next to said nozzle.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 6 in which said vanes are located on the nozzle end portion of said cylindrical member with the remaining portion of said cylindrical member having a smooth interior surface.
 8. A step by step sprinkler head apparatus comprising in combination: a. a rotatable sprinkler body adapted to be coupled to a source of water under pressure; b. first and second water discharge nozzles attached to said body for discharging water therethrough, said first nozzle being adapted for discharge of water in a first direction; c. aN impulse arm mounted to said sprinkler body, said impulse arm having a water engaging portion for repelling said impulse arm from said stream of water upon engagement therewith; d. resilient means connected to said sprinkler body for biasing said impulse arm for movement in one direction for engagement with a water stream being discharged by said nozzle whereby said sprinkler head will be moved by the impulse arm intermittently engaging the stream of water; e. strainer means for blocking passage of larger pieces of trash through said second nozzle, said strainer means being a bar screen in the passageway to said second nozzle and integral with said sprinkler body; and f. spiralling means located beyween said strainer means and the tip of said second nozzle for spiralling water passing therethrough for more uniform sprinkling of the area surrounding said sprinkler head apparatus, said spiralling means being a cylindrical member having interior curved vanes for generating a vortex in the water passing therethrough. 